Offseason MLB Trade Ideas Based on Post-World Series Rumors and Speculation
That baseball's offseason hasn't yet officially begun hasn't stopped the rumor mill from beginning to spin, albeit slowly and with most of the focus on the free-agent market, which opens its doors for business Saturday.
But mixed in with the free-agent chatter have been some rumors and speculation about some All-Star-caliber players who, while still under contract, could find themselves getting acclimated to a new city and clubhouse before long.
Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication any of them have actually been discussed.
Drew Storen Gets Traded to the Astros
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Houston Gets: RHP Drew Storen
Washington Gets: 2B/OF Tony Kemp
It seemed a foregone conclusion that Washington would trade Drew Storen this winter after he was unceremoniously replaced as the team's closer by perennial malcontent Jonathan Papelbon last year, and CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported the 28-year-old wants a fresh start with a new team.
That team might as well be Houston, which could use some late-inning reinforcements and has more than enough pieces to put a deal together for the six-year veteran.
In this scenario, the Astros land Storen in exchange for 24-year-old Tony Kemp, who lacks power but profiles as a top-of-the-order hitter thanks to an advanced approach at the plate and the speed and instincts to cause problems when he gets on base.
Blocked in Houston by Jose Altuve and behind George Springer, Preston Tucker and, before too long, fellow prospects Daz Cameron, Derek Fisher and Kyle Tucker on the organizational depth chart, Kemp is an expendable-yet-valuable trade chip for the Astros to play.
Kemp might not break camp with the Nationals, but he would give the club insurance at second base and in center field, where Michael Taylor figures to take over on a full-time basis with the departure of Denard Span.
Yasiel Puig Gets Traded to the Indians
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Cleveland Gets: OF Yasiel Puig
Los Angeles Gets: RHP Danny Salazar
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe heard Danny Salazar, not Carlos Carrasco, is the starting pitcher whom Cleveland will dangle as trade bait this winter, presumably in an effort to land a right-handed outfield bat with power.
Whether Zack Greinke stays in Los Angeles or not, the Dodgers are in need of another starting pitcher and have a plethora of outfielders. More than a few pundits have speculated in recent weeks that the team's front office isn't as attached to Yasiel Puig as its predecessors and could look to move him.
It's a deal that makes sense for both teams.
Salazar, 25, is under team control through 2020 and could easily slide into the Dodgers rotation as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. He pitched to a 3.45 ERA, 3.62 fielding independent pitching (FIP) and 1.13 WHIP over 185 innings spanning 30 starts last season, walking 53 and fanning 195.
Puig, 24, has battled injury and inconsistency during his Dodgers tenure, but he still has significant upside and is due roughly $25 million through 2018—the kind of salary the Indians can fit into their budget with little issue.
Craig Kimbrel and Tyson Ross Get Traded to the Red Sox
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Boston Gets: RHP Craig Kimbrel and RHP Tyson Ross
San Diego Gets: OF/3B Garin Cecchini, RHP Pat Light, LHP Henry Owens, OF Manuel Margot and SS Deven Marrero
San Diego is expected to actively shop a number of players this winter, while Boston, according to Heyman, is willing to trade top prospects to land the ace it needs. There's a deal to be made between the two clubs.
Tyson Ross isn't as well-known as some of the other premier starters in baseball, but the 28-year-old has put up numbers that are as good and if not better than those belonging to the likes of Chris Archer, Cole Hamels and Felix Hernandez over the past two seasons.
With Koji Uehara entering his age-41 season and unlikely to become more durable, Craig Kimbrel gives Boston an elite, reliable closer in his prime, one who will have Uehara and Junichi Tazawa to help bridge the gap between him and the rotation.
Granted, the Red Sox are paying a steep price for two years of Ross and three years of Kimbrel, but it's far more reasonable than, say, shelling out another lucrative, multiyear deal to a high-profile free agent.
San Diego gains some much-needed payroll flexibility while adding multiple young pieces who not only fill holes on its roster, but have a reasonable chance of breaking camp with the team.
Deven Marrero ends the Padres search for a shortstop, while Henry Owens, who made 11 starts for Boston in 2015 and pitched to a 4.57 ERA (4.28 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP, can fill a rotation spot and still has the upside of a front-of-the-rotation arm. Pat Light isn't a closer, but he provides more depth for the bullpen.
Manuel Margot is a more complete package in center field than the likes of Travis Jankowski, Melvin Upton Jr. and Wil Myers, who could bounce between first base and left field, where Garin Cecchini, should he get back to his opposite-field approach at the plate, could be a long-term answer.
Aroldis Chapman Gets Traded to the Diamondbacks
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Arizona Gets: LHP Aroldis Chapman
Cincinnati Gets: 2B/3B Brandon Drury, OF Victor Reyes and RHP Braden Shipley
The Diamondbacks tried and failed to acquire Aroldis Chapman at last year's non-waiver trade deadline, with Arizona Sports 98.7 FM's John Gambadoro reporting Cincinnati's asking price of Brandon Drury, Braden Shipley and a third prospect was too rich for the D-backs' liking.
But it really shouldn't be if Arizona is convinced it can re-sign Chapman, who is entering the final year of his deal and is still available, according to Cafardo.
There's no clear path to regular playing time for Drury with the Diamondbacks, and while he might be relegated to bench duty in Cincinnati, he'd give the team options at both second base and third base should the Reds look to move Brandon Phillips and/or Todd Frazier this winter.
Victor Reyes is a year away from making an impact, but he possesses excellent bat speed, an ability to make consistent contact and still-developing power; he's a long-term answer in an outfield corner for the Reds.
Shipley is just about ready for the big leagues, and he's the biggest piece of the package heading back to the Reds. Armed with three above-average offerings (including a really nasty curveball) and a clean, easily repeatable delivery, he's at worst a high-end No. 3 starter but more likely a solid No. 2 or low-end ace.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
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